Current Conditions Across Central Alabama
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there in Central Alabama. Skies across much of the area are clear at the 11 o’clock hour. The exceptions are for the northeastern parts of the area and for the extreme west and southwestern parts of the area. At this moment, all of Central Alabama is free from rainfall. For those that were hoping for a “White Christmas,” the only way you’ll be able to see one is to watch the movie on your favorite streaming video service or DVD.
Current Temperatures Across Central Alabama
Temperatures at the 11 o’clock hour are already up in the upper 60s to the upper 70s across the area. The warm spot at this time is Montgomery at 79 degrees. The cool spot (which is not really all that cool) is Gadsden at 66 degrees. We may break some record highs today.
Birmingham’s Climatology And Records
The normal high for December 25th is 54, while the normal low is 34. The record high for today was set back in 2015 at 77 degrees. The record low was set back in 1983 at 2 degrees.
The Remainder Of Christmas Day
For the afternoon and early evening hours, skies will be clear to partly cloudy across the area. Temperatures have already risen up into the upper 60s and low to mid 70s across the area, and should top out in the mid 70s to low 80s across the area from north to south. It is very possible that several record highs could either be tied or broken today. Record high in Birmingham is 77 degrees, and that is what the expected high is going to be. For the late evening and into the overnight hours, skies will become partly to mostly cloudy as low clouds will develop. In the southern parts of the area, some patchy dense fog could develop. Overnight lows will drop down into the upper 50s to low 60s across Central Alabama.
The Last Week Of 2016
The first half of the week will feature more clouds than sun, continued unseasonably warm weather with 70s on Monday, and mid and upper 60s on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll see wet weather at times with scattered showers on Monday, and then more widespread rain as a front approaches the state and stalls out for Tuesday and Wednesday. A deep, trough dives south and will bring another front on Thursday that will make it through the state and will bring us colder weather late in the week. By Friday and into Saturday, expect a sunny sky with lows back in the 30s and highs only near 50 degrees.
Headed To The Beach
Partly sunny days, and cool, fair nights, along the beaches through the end of year with an occasional passing shower or storm, from Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach.
Latest On The Drought Situation
As of this Thursday’s release of the U.S. Drought Monitor for Alabama, over 98% of the state remains in drought conditions, which is actually an improvement from last week when the entire state was classified in a drought. Over 86% of the state remains in severe drought conditions, with over 51% of the state in extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Believe it or now, less than 2% of the state was in an extreme drought just three months ago.
National Extremes
McAllen, Texas recorded the warmest high temperature for Saturday across the U.S. at 90 degrees. Burns, Oregon recorded the coldest low temperature in the U.S. for Saturday night into the early morning hours today at -8 degrees.
On This Day In Weather History: 2006
Severe thunderstorms produced four tornadoes in Florida. Columbia, Pasco, Lake and Volusia counties were hardest-hit, including the Daytona Beach area. A tornado generated considerable damage on the campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, delaying the start of the Spring semester.
Forecaster: Scott Martin (Twitter: @scottmartinwx)
Central Alabama Weather 